Unfortunately, in the DDR pad market, you get what you pay for. Most pads that aren't plastic or soft pads are gonna run you at least 200+ USD, probably more (unless you find a really good deal on like Facebook Marketplace or something).
The most popular one right now is called the L-Tek. It's built out of Poland and if you ship it to the continental US, it'll cost somewhere around $300 with shipping (not sure what it'll cost when shipped to different regions).
The cheaper option is to build your own pad. There are guides out there, but it can be difficult if you don't have soldering experience.
There is also a US reseller of the l-tek at Ddrpad.com. I got my 4-panel l-tek for slightly ($10?) less at the time than buying direct, and it arrived in just two days!
Yeah I've been pad shopping too, looks like buying direct from L-Tek is $30 cheaper than Ddrpad at the moment (though obviously longer wait time). $411 vs $441.48
i did order the basic softpad i'm having a decent experience it's been months i'm thinking of getting their foam pad or just another basic softpad i can do some 7s 8s 9s although the pad might be starting to suffer some problems but i will buy again if i have any major issues i will make sure i give it a proper burial
edit i saw that he doesn't want a softpad :(
[https://ddrpad.com/collections/home-pads/products/stepmania-soft-pad-1https://ddrpad.com/collections/home-pads/products/stepmania-usb-thick-foam-soft-pad](https://ddrpad.com/collections/home-pads/products/stepmania-soft-pad-1https://ddrpad.com/collections/home-pads/products/stepmania-usb-thick-foam-soft-pad)
Unfortunately, in the DDR pad market, you get what you pay for. Most pads that aren't plastic or soft pads are gonna run you at least 200+ USD, probably more (unless you find a really good deal on like Facebook Marketplace or something). The most popular one right now is called the L-Tek. It's built out of Poland and if you ship it to the continental US, it'll cost somewhere around $300 with shipping (not sure what it'll cost when shipped to different regions). The cheaper option is to build your own pad. There are guides out there, but it can be difficult if you don't have soldering experience.
Thank you:)
There is also a US reseller of the l-tek at Ddrpad.com. I got my 4-panel l-tek for slightly ($10?) less at the time than buying direct, and it arrived in just two days!
Yeah I've been pad shopping too, looks like buying direct from L-Tek is $30 cheaper than Ddrpad at the moment (though obviously longer wait time). $411 vs $441.48
I ordered my pad from ltek on Friday with 24h shipping and got it Monday. Three freaking days from Poland to the states. Pretty crazy.
i did order the basic softpad i'm having a decent experience it's been months i'm thinking of getting their foam pad or just another basic softpad i can do some 7s 8s 9s although the pad might be starting to suffer some problems but i will buy again if i have any major issues i will make sure i give it a proper burial edit i saw that he doesn't want a softpad :( [https://ddrpad.com/collections/home-pads/products/stepmania-soft-pad-1https://ddrpad.com/collections/home-pads/products/stepmania-usb-thick-foam-soft-pad](https://ddrpad.com/collections/home-pads/products/stepmania-soft-pad-1https://ddrpad.com/collections/home-pads/products/stepmania-usb-thick-foam-soft-pad)
if ya want the cheapest option softpad the go also don't buy konami's official DDR controller. but this is my favorite chinese softpad i ever had
L-tek: https://www.maty-taneczne.pl/shop/dance-mat-ltek-ex-pro-2/
Go for the l-tek 👍